Choosing a paint color for your living room, bedroom or exterior of your house can feel like a weighty decision. A decision that requires the same focus you might use while filling out an end-of-life medical directive. Well, hopefully not. But you have to live with this color and we all know no one's got time to repaint. I mean, I've said it to myself a million times: "Don't worry, Zina...if you don't like this color, you can always repaint the bathroom." Yeah right. Ain't no one got time for that! You're prepping, painting 2 coats, and hopefully never painting again. However, we all know color swatches are elusive creatures, changing with the hour and the wall angle. How do you decide between grey or beige? Greige? Or when is it time to go bold with an accent of orange or navy? Here are some tips to help you:
1) Pinterest
There are so many amazing designers and interior decorators streaming tips and favorite palettes all over Pinterest. USE THEM! They know what they're doing. I've seen so many people pick out a grey that turned out to be periwinkle, or a beige that was really peach. In the end, what happens? They leave it because, even though it wasn't what they wanted, no one's got time (or the will) for repainting!
2) Beware of swatches on a wall.
The problem with this is that the current shade on your wall is messing with your mind. It's making the current swatch seem more dull or bright, because it's competing with another color. Also, if you didn't take the time to prime before you painted that color on the wall, then you're not getting a feel for the true shade. One time I painted my favorite color, Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams, over a bright turquoise. Sea Salt, which is a tranquil, greyish-blueish-green, looked like a moldy film on the wall until the final moment that turquoise was covered over. I kept the faith though, and was very happy with the result!
3) Cover the walls in what you love!
When my husband and I bought our first house, it needed renovation from head to toe. When we had enough money saved, we went gang-busters. The renovations were going very fast, which was awesome, but it required me to make constant decisions and fast! Around the time I was choosing paint colors for the first floor, I fell ill with multiple decision-itis. My purse, and most drawers in the house were filled with paint swatches. I finally called a friend of mine (and also a designer in Michigan). She told me to go into the paint store, and just find the swatch that makes me the happiest, and go from there. Don't think about living rooms or bathrooms or 'will this color make the space look small?'. The moral of the story: when all else fails...just find your happy color.
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